Description
(please see https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/college-street-music-hall-new-haven-will-increase-accessibility-comply-ada)
The settlement of the above referenced action by the DOJ resulted in an ADA-complaint sidewalk in front of College St Music Hall. When the City of New Haven made the discriminatory decision to provide able individuals with the protected bike lane on College St. and allow restaurants to encroach upon the path of travel that was barely accessible as it was, it illegally left people who have disabilities with no access to that ADA-compliant sidewalk or that venue.
It would have been easily possible to create a pedestrian travel lane on the roadway where some of that outdoor seating is and more the seating to the slate slabs that pass for a sidewalk, so it seems that this discrimination was intentional.
Pleas provide equal access to College St. Music Hall.
25 Comments
LCI Citywide Helper (Verified Official)
David Agosta (Registered User)
David Agosta (Registered User)
LCI Citywide Helper (Verified Official)
LCI has an update about this issue:
Area inspected by Public Works 4/25/2023. The City hopes to install a ramp in the future.
LCI Citywide Helper (Verified Official)
LCI Citywide Helper (Verified Official)
David Agosta (Registered User)
LCI Citywide Helper (Verified Official)
This issue was recategorized because the City needs to go through their internal process to add a ramp at this location. We believe this is the proper category for such a request.
Thank you for reporting this concern.
David Agosta (Registered User)
I suggest/request that Engineering rethink College St., both with some respect for the rights of people with disabilities but also because it makes no sense to have curbside parking and a "protected" bike lane outside of that. If cars have to cross the bike lane to park, it really isn't "protected."
The city cannot, as it did when it instituted the outdoor seating policy, completely deny people with disabilities the right to access College St. Music Hall.
It CANNOT do that.
David Agosta (Registered User)
LCI Citywide Helper (Verified Official)
The ramp is part of the solution for providing ADA access.
LCI staff defers to Public Space enforcement staff about the encroachment concern. LCI is not involved in the Outdoor Seating program.
David Agosta (Registered User)
I understand and appreciate that LCI is trying to be helpful but everyone has a right to access College St. Music Hall - today, tomorrow and next week, not when DPW gets around to it. It's no different than saying "we'll remove the whites-only and coloreds-only restrooms in some future major project." This is an existing denial of a basic civil-right caused by a discriminatory policy.
You may wish to refer this to the Corporation Counsel - https://www.justice.gov/usao-ct/pr/college-street-music-hall-new-haven-will-increase-accessibility-comply-ada
LCI Citywide Helper (Verified Official)
David Agosta (Registered User)
I knew that if LCI got involved, the first checkbox in ending this discrimination could be checked off. That is greatly appreciated but it's only the first step.
Ignoring for a moment that the hyperfocus on individual specifications is an evasion technique that serves to avoid compliance...that's not even true..
In this case, evasion is accomplished by ignoring the requirement that the "path of travel" defined by that minimum width MUST itself be traversable to someone in a wheelchair. It is not.
Even if that measurement was correct, this is only compliant if one ignores:
The numerous changes in vertical level that exceed the "absolute maximum' of 1/2"
The loose and/or broken slate that is not "stable, frim and slip-resistant"
The City of New Haven doesn't get to pick and choose which requirement it needs to meet. It MUST meet ALL of them...and, apparently, lessons in how to use a tape measure.
David Agosta (Registered User)
arebeleayes (Registered User)
David Agosta (Registered User)
Ignoring for a moment that the five-foot wide path that the city claims is open is - duh - not traversable to someone in a wheelchair - duh, duh, duh - the city either:
Lied about that width.
Are not competent to use a tape measure.
Most likely, ignored the fact that the barriers are temporary and moveable, said, 'It's wide enough now, let's get out of here before they move them.
This is part of a pattern of misrepresenting facts. the requirements of Federal law and a group of able people intentionality discriminating against the members of a protected class who are not like them.
What the city claims is o obviously not true that you don't even need to measure it.
David Agosta (Registered User)
David Agosta (Registered User)
David Agosta (Registered User)
David Agosta (Registered User)
Killian Gruber, Coordinator of Resident Services (Verified Official)
Killian Gruber, Coordinator of Resident Services (Verified Official)
Killian Gruber, Coordinator of Resident Services (Verified Official)
Killian Gruber, Coordinator of Resident Services (Verified Official)